Carlsbad Food & Drink Tour

Carlsbad Food & Drink Tour

Serving Up City Sights

Explore the quaint beach town of Carlsbad

Journey through time and space on our Carlsbad food tours. On this curated experience, you’ll get a taste of local history at the storied Alkaline Water Depot before you visit some of the city’s finest restaurants. Enjoy notable San Diego cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, and Californian-American, sip on carefully selected drink samples, and dig into a delectable local dessert. Downtown Carlsbad offers a distinct experience with its diverse and delicious culinary scene. We’ve crafted the best culinary itinerary of Carlsbad for you.

About Carlsbad Food Tours:

Hungry for an authentic Carlsbad experience? Start with a taste of the alkaline spring water that gave this city its start, and then spring into the future with carefully-curated food and wine tasting menus designed to provide a first-hand glimpse into the city’s cultural roots and innovative culinary spirit. 

  • History on the move – We combine a detailed walking tour with a hand-selected food sampling for a holistic Downtown Carlsbad experience. Work up an appetite as you explore the city’s rich stories, culture, local history, unique eateries, and top sights.
  • Adventurous local partnerships Enjoy the diverse cultural traditions and tourist attractions of this Southern Californian city through our unique local partners. Experience the story behind the story as you create your own authentic Carlsbad experience.
  • Something for everyone – Whether you’re a wine lover, foodie, Carlsbad history buff, or anything in between, our Carlsbad food tours cater to your interests. Make personalized memories amid our wide variety of options.
  • A tour designed for you – Our experienced and knowledgeable guides are ready to share the stories and details most interesting to you. Turn your Carlsbad drink tour and food tours in local eateries into a personalized experience that’s different each time.
  • Hand-selected menus – Enjoy a meticulously designed pre-set menu at each great food destination during your Carlsbad Village food tour. Our local partners infuse dining options with decades of experience and a rich variety of flavors that will make your taste buds dance.
  • A pour de force Think of this great food and drink tour as one of the best wine tasting tours Carlsbad, CA, offers. Revel in the splendor of our Southern California wine as you sip on locally sourced drink options that perfectly complement your delectable and delicious savory meals.

Our Carlsbad Tours can be booked for private groups of 10 or more guests. They’re anything but ordinary, and for a more elevated experience, we can sprinkle some unique offerings tailored just for you! Contact us to discuss.

If you’re interested in exploring other parts of the city, we offer Daily San Diego food tours in Old Town, La Jolla, Little Italy, and Downtown San Diego.

Carlsbad Food Tour Length:

  • Your tour will be approximately 3 hours. 
  • You’ll visit four sites in total, including the Alkaline Water Depot, 2 to 3 local restaurants, and a stop for tasty desserts.
Carlsbad Street Art

Street Art

Carlsbad Village is full of cute shops and restaurants, but the area is also known for it’s street art that adorns some of the largest walls in the neighborhood. One notable spot for street art enthusiasts is the Carlsbad Village train station, which features a colorful mural that captures the spirit of the community.

Brewery Tours

Mouthwatering Bites

Carlsbad started out because of their “magical” alkaline water, but has grown to be a destination now for delicious food, shopping, and entertainment. We will take you to a couple of local eateries for iconic bites and tastings.

Carlsbad Alkaline water

Most healthful water

Carlsbad Alkaline all-natural water has been celebrated as the most “healthful water” you can get. People drive here from surrounding areas to fill their jugs, and now you can buy it at retail stores. People swear by its magic, and you’ll taste some on this walking food tour.

Carlsbad Food Tour FAQs

Please let us know in advance if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. We’ll try to accommodate restrictions as best we can, but it is not always possible. We can provide a copy of the itinerary and pre-set menu before the tour for your convenience. We’re also happy to direct you to the website of the local restaurants for more information.

The Carlsbad tour is offered to private groups only at this time.  All booking must be made in advance, either online or over the phone. Tickets will not be available at the tour site.

You’ll visit 2-3 local restaurants in Carlsbad California, each with a different food and drink sampling. Depending on your tour, you might experience a mix of the city’s celebrated cuisines, including Italian, Mexican, or California-American. After delicious food and drink pairings at two Carlsbad dining institutions, you’ll enjoy a third and final stop for dessert.

You’re certainly welcome to shop on the tour! Your tour guide is a valuable source of information on local prices, artisan items, and any relevant cultural or historical background. Be sure to notify your tour guide if you’re interested in a certain souvenir or looking to check out a particular shop.

For a comfortable experience, visitors are recommended to wear lightweight and comfortable clothing, along with practical footwear. Don’t forget a camera to capture the experience! A smartphone works fine, too. Snapping photos is an excellent way to preserve memories of the delectable meals you’ve enjoyed at the local eateries, as well as the eye-catching street art and tourist attractions of Carlsbad California.

Our San Diego Tour Guides

Our San Diego Tour Guides

Kaylee Killebrew - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: 5 years, I quickly fell in love with this city. 

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is: Meeting people from all over the world, making them laugh, showing them some of my favorite spots and creating meaningful memories. 

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is:  Hillcrest or Old Town. Both are walkable and friendly places with endless restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. You can find me in Old Town most weekends.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is: This is a tough choice, for atmosphere and cocktails probably InsideOUT or Coasterra. For Breakfast…Morning Glory or Great Maple. For Dinner, Queenstown, Underbelly or Bronx Pizza. There are way too many options to choose from!

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: To Read on the beach, host dinner parties with friends or scope out new happy hour spots.

Kaylee Killebrew

Kaylee Killebrew - Tour Guide

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Magdalene Medofer - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: my whole life, I was born here.

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is: meeting new folks and sharing San Diego with them.

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is: Barrio Logan, I love the history of Chicano Park, the eclectic artisan shops, and extensive food scene.  The weekend is the best time to explore and watch the lowrider car clubs cruise the neighborhood and visit the shops.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is: Artifact at the Mingei in Balboa Park.  Any dish off their international food menu will blow your mind.  They also host monthly themed dinners that highlight a particular cuisine and region.

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: Go for a hike at Cuyamaca State Park and swim at Green Valley Falls.

Magdalene Medofer

Tour Guide

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Aparna Thakur - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: 1 ½ years!

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is: Meeting new people, showing them around and telling stories and history of the city.

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is: La Jolla because of its beautiful beaches, great restaurants and shopping as well as abundance of sea life.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is: Brigantine

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: Watching sunset in point loma Ocean Beach

Aparna Thakur

Tour Guide

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Raul Torres Valadez - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: One year recently and also when I was a teenager.

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is: Meeting new people.

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is:  Pacific Beach and Coronado.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is: Oscar’s Mexican seafood and Birrieria la Huasteca.

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: Hike in the canyons.

Raul Torres Valadez

Tour Guide

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Ben Schorr - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: 5 years, I quickly fell in love with this city. 

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is: Meeting people from all over the world, making them laugh, showing them some of my favorite spots and creating meaningful memories. 

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is:  Hillcrest or Old Town. Both are walkable and friendly places with endless restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. You can find me in Old Town most weekends.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is: This is a tough choice, for atmosphere and cocktails probably InsideOUT or Coasterra. For Breakfast…Morning Glory or Great Maple. For Dinner, Queenstown, Underbelly or Bronx Pizza. There are way too many options to choose from!

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: To Read on the beach, host dinner parties with friends or scope out new happy hour spots.

Ben Schorr

Tour Guide

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Bleu Ford - Tour Guide

I’ve lived in San Diego for: A long time!  I moved to San Diego in 1986 so I have lived here for most of my life.  I consider it my adopted home town.

My favorite thing about being a tour guide is:  I love both meeting new people and sharing knowledge about this beautiful city.  After retiring from USPS I wanted to do work that brings me joy and I have found that being a guide.  I love getting a laugh from a group or seeing the spark of excitement when I share a bit of San Diego’s colorful history.

My favorite San Diego neighborhood is:  I am partial to my own hood, North Park.  I love living here!  We lost so many great places due to Covid but it warms my heart to see that this neighborhood is returning to being a vibrant and fun place.  It always seems like there is something new or some fun event happening.

My favorite restaurant in San Diego is:  A few of my go-to favs are Buona Forchetta in South Park for relaxed patio dining with great food Jimmy Carter’s in Hillcrest for the comfortable and colorful ambiance and great Mexican comfort food and Shwarma Guys food truck (which parks regularly at 30th and Grape in South Park).  It is my go-to “I’m super hungry and too tired to cook” take home.  It always hits the spot.

My favorite thing to do in San Diego is: I recently got an e-bike and my new love is re-discovering the uptown area on two wheels.  It is pretty amazing how differently you see the city on a bike.  I love strolling through Balboa Park with my wife.  We are so lucky to have this awesome park with such a rich history so close to our home.  Finally, you can’t beat an early morning walk along the harbor.  The waterfront is beautiful in the morning quiet with a bit of fog hanging in the air.

Bleu Ford

Tour Guide

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